Springfieldhttp://wuis.org
enKingsway Restaurant Brings A Taste Of West Africa To Springfieldhttp://wuis.org/post/kingsway-restaurant-brings-taste-west-africa-springfield
<p>Springfield has a great deal of Mexican and Asian restaurants - but it is lacking when it comes to some other ethnic foods. A relatively new African restaurant is bridging some of those gaps for local foodies with adventurous palates. Listen to the report:</p><p>Wed, 15 Jul 2015 19:02:24 +0000Rachel Otwell53575 at http://wuis.orgKingsway Restaurant Brings A Taste Of West Africa To SpringfieldWhat Will Become Of Springfield's Holy Land?http://wuis.org/post/what-will-become-springfields-holy-land
<p><em><strong>UPDATE: </strong>Afaf Rashmawy tells us while there is still yet to be a buyer, Holy Land will close after Saturday, April 25th. Lunch and dinner will both be served that day.</em></p>Tue, 24 Mar 2015 19:06:22 +0000Rachel Otwell45948 at http://wuis.orgWhat Will Become Of Springfield's Holy Land?Springfield Airport Will Make Another Attempt To Add Gamblinghttp://wuis.org/post/springfield-airport-will-make-another-attempt-add-gambling
<p></p><p>After being turned down for a video gambling license last year, the Springfield airport will try its luck again.</p>Sat, 24 Jan 2015 13:40:00 +0000Sean Crawford41263 at http://wuis.orgSpringfield Airport Will Make Another Attempt To Add GamblingBusiness Report: Former Restaurant Near Statehouse Up For Auction; Downtown Springfield Inc. Updatehttp://wuis.org/post/business-report-former-restaurant-near-statehouse-auction-downtown-springfield-inc-update
<p>On this week's WUIS / State Journal-Register Business Report, we discuss a one-time statehouse hangout that is on the auction block.&nbsp; The former Baur's Restaurant is just south of the capitol complex.&nbsp;</p><p>SJ-R Business Editor Tim Landis tells us the fact the auction has no minimum bid says something about the change in habits during legislative sessions.</p><p>We also discuss a judge's order that forces demolition of the Knox Flats building in Springfield and a financial update on Downtown Springfield Inc.</p><p></p>Wed, 15 Oct 2014 15:48:08 +0000Sean Crawford35081 at http://wuis.orgBusiness Report: Former Restaurant Near Statehouse Up For Auction; Downtown Springfield Inc. UpdateDowntown Springfield Business Deal Goes South. The WUIS-State Journal Register Business Reporthttp://wuis.org/post/downtown-springfield-business-deal-goes-south-wuis-state-journal-register-business-report
<p></p><p>A project in downtown Springfield that was to revitalize a former church is now in the courtroom.&nbsp; Tim Landis of the <em>State Journal Register </em>discusses that and some of the week's other stories.</p><p></p>Thu, 09 Oct 2014 15:43:21 +0000Bill Wheelhouse34738 at http://wuis.orgDowntown Springfield Business Deal Goes South. The WUIS-State Journal Register Business ReportDecatur Unemployment Shows Biggest Drop In Nationhttp://wuis.org/post/decatur-unemployment-shows-biggest-drop-nation
<p>Decatur's unemployment rate showed the biggest drop in the nation from a year ago. However that does not mean more people are working.</p><p>The jobless rate in Decatur is tied for the highest in the state with Rockford,&nbsp; but the drop of&nbsp; 3.1% was the biggest decrease in the nation according to the <a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/metro.pdf">federal agency that monitors such things.&nbsp;&nbsp;</a></p>Wed, 01 Oct 2014 15:22:56 +0000Bill Wheelhouse34235 at http://wuis.orgDecatur Unemployment Shows Biggest Drop In NationCharities Stepping In Where Government Used To Behttp://wuis.org/post/charities-stepping-where-government-used-be
<p></p><p></p><p>Charities are finding themselves asked to step in to help pay for services and programs that were previously in the government's domain. It seems to be an increasing trend since the economy took a dip several years ago.</p><p>Private fundraising for government programs is not necessarily new. State universities have long engaged in fundraising, especially with their alumni and elementary school groups have long held bake sales.</p>Wed, 27 Aug 2014 16:54:23 +0000Bill Wheelhouse32131 at http://wuis.orgCharities Stepping In Where Government Used To BeFull Steam Ahead For Amtrakhttp://wuis.org/post/full-steam-ahead-amtrak
<p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Amtrak ridership in Illinois has risen in recent years; it's up almost 85 percent from 2006 through last year. That trend developed after the rail service added routes. The train service could grow more in the future.</p><p></p><p><span style="line-height: 1.5;">In 2006, lines branching out from Chicago that went to Carbondale, Quincy and St. Louis added trips.</span></p>Thu, 07 Aug 2014 01:46:00 +0000Amanda Vinicky30837 at http://wuis.orgFull Steam Ahead For AmtrakAnother Coal Mine Discovered Under Springfieldhttp://wuis.org/post/another-coal-mine-discovered-under-springfield
<p>There was more coal mining under the city of Springfield than previously thought.</p><p>Some cases of mine subsidence in the south part of Springfield last year led to a discovery that more ground under Springfield had been mined for coal.</p><p>Scott Elrick with the State Geological Survey says they found an area between MacArthur and Fifth and&nbsp; between Ash and Laurel that had been mined in the 1800's.</p><p>Elrick compares the finding to a new discovery when doing family genealogy.</p>Thu, 19 Jun 2014 17:00:17 +0000Bill Wheelhouse27578 at http://wuis.orgAnother Coal Mine Discovered Under SpringfieldUnemployment Falls In Springfield, Decaturhttp://wuis.org/post/unemployment-falls-springfield-decatur
<p>Unemployment in the Springfield metro area last month dropped to its lowest level in 6 years.&nbsp;&nbsp; The rate of 5.7 % is below both the state and national averages.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br /><br />The Illinois Department of Employment Security says the Springfield area added 2,000 jobs last month, mostly in construction, educational and health services and retail.<br />Thu, 22 May 2014 20:11:52 +0000Sean Crawford25704 at http://wuis.orgUnemployment Falls In Springfield, DecaturStudy Shows Demand For Residential Space In Downtown Springfieldhttp://wuis.org/post/study-shows-demand-residential-space-downtown-springfield
<p>The <a href="http://sdatspringfield.com/Default.aspx">Sustainable Design Assessment Team</a> has been focused on the future of Downtown Springfield for about two years.&nbsp;</p><p>SDAT sees the need for more residential space downtown.&nbsp; A recent study confirms that view.&nbsp;</p><p>"We're really talking about millenials, people in their 20's plus or minus.&nbsp; And we're talking about the other end of the spectrum, empty nesters," Action Committee Co-chair Chuck Pell said.&nbsp; Students from UIS or SIU could also be another group looking for a downtown living experience.&nbsp;</p>Thu, 27 Feb 2014 08:00:00 +0000Sean Crawford19728 at http://wuis.orgStudy Shows Demand For Residential Space In Downtown SpringfieldCity Of Springfield Declares Snow Emergency Beginning This Weekendhttp://wuis.org/post/city-springfield-declares-snow-emergency-beginning-weekend
<p>The Springfield Office of Public Works is preparing its response for a winter storm as the National Weather Service has predicted heavy snowfall between midnight and noon on Sunday.</p><p>A Snow Emergency will go into effect Saturday night at 8 p.m. and will remain in effect until Tuesday at 12 a.m. When a snow emergency is declared, all vehicles must be removed from the routes within four hours of activation.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>The City of Springfield issued the following news release:</p>Fri, 03 Jan 2014 22:13:34 +0000WUIS16260 at http://wuis.orgCity Of Springfield Declares Snow Emergency Beginning This WeekendSpringfield & Chatham Reach Tentative Settlementhttp://wuis.org/post/springfield-chatham-reach-tentative-settlement
<p></p><p>Springfield and Chatham hope to approval a final settlement in the coming month regarding a water contract dispute between the two communities.</p><p>This will put an end to a lawsuit over Chatham's decision to break its water contract with CWLP.</p><p>Under the deal, Chatham will pay Springfield a half million dollars in damages and it will pay the city $200,000 for a long term lease of ground where Chatham has a pump station.</p><p>In addition, Chatham will allow Springfield to transport water through Chatham's water system to Loami.</p>Wed, 18 Dec 2013 13:18:14 +0000Bill Wheelhouse15254 at http://wuis.orgSpringfield & Chatham Reach Tentative SettlementPanhandling Suit Filed In Springfieldhttp://wuis.org/post/panhandling-suit-filed-springfield
<p>Springfield is defending its policies on panhandlers after a new lawsuit accused the city of violating free-speech rights by barring panhandlers from asking for money. &nbsp;<br>The suit filed on behalf of panhandlers this week in federal court says police wrongly tell panhandlers that what they're doing is illegal.&nbsp; Springfield's ordinance is a bit confusing.&nbsp; It prohibits vocal requests for money, but allows someone to hold a sign making a similar request.&nbsp; The city passed the measure back in 2007 for the downtown area.</p>Wed, 04 Sep 2013 19:28:35 +0000Associated Press and WUIS8355 at http://wuis.orgPanhandling Suit Filed In SpringfieldWUIS/SJ-R Business Report: August 27, 2013http://wuis.org/post/wuissj-r-business-report-august-27-2013
<p></p><p>The State Journal-Register's Business Editor Tim Landis joins us to talk about the possibility of faster freight trains along Springfield's Third Street corridor and an upcoming corn crop survey in Sangamon County:</p><p></p>Tue, 27 Aug 2013 19:51:51 +0000Sean Crawford7939 at http://wuis.orgWUIS/SJ-R Business Report: August 27, 2013Maufacturing Losses Lead To Decatur's Rise In Unemployment http://wuis.org/post/maufacturing-losses-lead-decaturs-rise-unemployment
<p>Illinois has the second highest unemployment rate in the nation.&nbsp; And Decatur has the highest in the state.<br><br>Caterpillar announced hundreds of layoffs this summer and that is now showing up in the jobless rate.&nbsp; Decatur's rate has gone up to 13.2 percent, 2 full percentage points above where it was a year ago.&nbsp; And it's also at the highest level it's been this time of year in about three decades. &nbsp;<br>Thu, 22 Aug 2013 22:18:15 +0000Sean Crawford7728 at http://wuis.orgMaufacturing Losses Lead To Decatur's Rise In Unemployment Weekly Business Report: Growth in Winerieshttp://wuis.org/post/weekly-business-report-growth-wineries
<p>Amanda Vinicky talks with Tim Landis, Business Editor for the State Journal Register. We'll talk about Illinois' growing, and spreading, wine industry.&nbsp; And what to do about high-accident intersections.&nbsp; That and more in this week's Business Report.</p><p></p><p>You can read the latest stories Landis is working on daily in the SJR.&nbsp;</p><p></p>Tue, 25 Jun 2013 21:45:29 +0000Amanda Vinicky4819 at http://wuis.orgWeekly Business Report: Growth in WineriesAG Says Springfield School Board Violated Open Meetings Acthttp://wuis.org/post/ag-says-springfield-school-board-violated-open-meetings-act
<p></p>Wed, 22 May 2013 22:02:11 +0000Rachel Otwell3085 at http://wuis.orgAG Says Springfield School Board Violated Open Meetings Act